Salesian College, Siliguri Launches Four-Year Integrated Teacher Education Programme

Siliguri, Feb. 21, 2026 — Salesian College Autonomous Siliguri has launched a four-year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP), marking a significant step in implementing national reforms in teacher preparation and expanding professional pathways for aspiring educators in West Bengal.

Approved by the National Council for Teacher Education, the dual-degree programme enables students to earn a B.A./B.Sc./B.Com alongside a B.Ed., removing the need for a separate teacher training course after undergraduate study. The recognition order dated February 19, 2026, published in the Gazette of India, authorises the B.A. B.Ed. (Secondary Stage) course with an annual intake of 100 students across two units.

Principal Dr. Babu Joseph described the initiative as a transformative model for teacher formation. “By integrating disciplinary knowledge with professional training from the outset, we are preparing educators who are both scholars and mentors,” he said.

Admissions for the 2026–27 academic session are now open, with streams in Arts, Science, and Commerce. According to ITEP Coordinator Fr. Dr. Jagjivan Tirkey, the programme is designed to produce teachers equipped for diverse classroom contexts across primary to higher secondary levels, grounded in values, inclusivity, and innovation.

Head of the Department of Education Priya Topno called the launch a milestone for North Bengal, noting that the integrated structure strengthens the professional identity of teaching while improving access to high-quality preparation.

Faculty members said the curriculum combines subject mastery, pedagogy, internships, and community engagement, with plans for partnerships with regional schools to ensure sustained classroom exposure.

Educationists across North Bengal have welcomed the development as a timely response to the state’s need for well-trained teachers. With the introduction of ITEP, the college joins a select group of institutions in India pioneering the integrated model in teacher education.

By C. M. Paul